Failure to Initiate CPR Due to Lack of Code Status Documentation
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to initiate Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for a resident who was found unresponsive, despite the resident being a full code. The resident was discovered without a pulse or respirations by two CNAs, who then notified a Registered Nurse (RN). The RN did not know the resident's code status and did not initiate CPR, assuming the resident was a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) because there was no documentation in the electronic medical record. However, the resident's progress notes and hospital discharge summary indicated that the resident was a full code. The care plan and physician order summary did not document the code status, and the POLST form was not completed during the resident's 12-day stay at the facility. Multiple staff members, including CNAs and nurses, were unaware of the resident's code status at the time of the incident. The CNAs relied on the RN for direction, and the RN failed to check or confirm the code status before pronouncing the resident deceased. The facility had a system in place to indicate code status with colored stars outside resident rooms and in the electronic medical record banner, but this information was either missing or not utilized. Staff interviews revealed confusion and lack of familiarity with the resident and the facility's protocol for determining and documenting code status. The failure to initiate CPR was contrary to facility policy, which states that in the absence of a documented code status, staff should treat the resident as a full code and begin CPR. The lack of documentation, incomplete admission paperwork, and failure to verify code status led to the resident not receiving life-sustaining measures when found unresponsive. The resident was pronounced dead at the facility without any attempt at resuscitation, and the incident was identified as Immediate Jeopardy due to the failure to provide basic life support as required.
Removal Plan
- V2 (Director of Nursing), V14 (LPN / MDS) and V20 (LPN) were educated by V10 (Regional Clinical Director) on code status policy, death of a resident and change of condition policy, and the CPR policy.
- V4 (Registered Nurse) was educated by V2 on Code status policy, death of a resident, change in condition policy, notifications, and CPR policy.
- V9 (Social Services Director) and V14 completed an audit of all residents to ensure an order for a code status was in place, POLST form was in place and care plan indicates the order appropriately.
- V3 completed an audit of all staff who are CPR certified and schedule a class for the staff who are not.
- V3 reviewed the facility policy on CPR.
- V2 initiated and completed the following in-servicing with all nursing staff on CPR initiation policy including immediate initiation of CPR for all full code residents when unresponsive, documentation of a death, code status when to initiate CPR and change in condition policy.
- V9 (Social Service Director) will be doing ongoing monthly audit to ensure all code status orders remain accurate and current.
- V2 (Director of Nursing) will monitor. Random audits of 3 resident records per week for accuracy of code status and 2 staff interviews to verify knowledge of protocol. Results will be reviewed by V1 (Administrator) and the Quality Assurance Committee monthly.